Dricus Du Plessis recaps his win vs. Sean Strickland at UFC 297 | ESPN MMA 

He proved that he could push the pace for 5 rounds without dwindling. Big testament to his gas tank and he's also got a solid chin.

DDP is a class act. Congrats champ! Can’t deny it all though I am Team Strickland.

The BOKKE beat France by one point, England by one point, New Zealand by one point and Strickland by one point.... just to prove a POINT 😂❤

This man is so humble, not just sean but all his fangirls can learn a thing or two. Sportsmanship is something you cant buy

Congratulations Dricus,lets see if the cardio argument can rest now. Big respect to Sean,it was close and he is a tough guy.

As a Saffer, I was rooting for Dricus, but must admit that I really like Strickland too. So close in the end. May there be many more exciting fights for both of them.

Megan is the best post fight interviewer. She really knows the fight game.

Good for Dricus. I'm American so of course I was rooting for Sean, but Dricus is a top guy and I'm happy for him. As well as South Africa. Congratulations on the win you bastards🤣

As a South African i just want to send my love and respect to Sean aswell. He is an amazing fighter it was a pleasure to watch this fight. Love you Sean and Dricus ❤

South African fan here.DDP amaging.Sean Strickland respect to you

Dricus did it for my country. Suid Afrika hulle weet nie wat ons wie. Dricus you are an inspiration to all of us back home. 🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦. But still respect to Sean, true warrior and run this tf back 🇿🇦🤝🇺🇸

Sean had more volume, Dricus had more impact + a beautiful slam.

Respect to both fighters are true warriors congrats to DDP 🇿🇦

Strickland is a top notch fighter but Dricus is something else. He doesn't look good but his sheer character and strength wins fights for him. He's not structured and that's what flummoxed them all. Wll done boytjie

Two great guys, Congrats Driscus

Idiots call it robbery. Legends call it war,.. and the better man won.

No bravado just honest..true champion.

I had sean winning 1 2 5 but not a robbery just a great example of a close fight

Congratulations to South Africa’s first UFC Champion! Big fan of these 2 guys! I believe the right man won. Would love to see these guy run it back tho! What a WAR!

2,3,4 were DDP. Not a robbery

South Africa needed this.

Sean won.

congrats, but def needs a rematch quick, this was SUPER CLOSE

Sean took rounds 1 and 5. Dricus took rounds 2, 3, and 4. It was a close fight, but the right man won. All these Sean Strickland fans are embarrassing and in complete denial 😂

Congrats Dricus, team CIT & South Africa. Close competitive fight, 2 fckn warriors. Well done Sean, that was the man dance.

he won the fight imo, but it could've gone either way, people saying this was a robbery are mad exaggerating, it was a very close fight

Hopefully he can continue his reign! 🇿🇦 ⚔️

Much love true warrior well done Dricus

That's the face that took 100 jabs and won bc that is all SS has is jabs. Dricus won bc of his pressure, takedowns, and harder strikes.

Congratulations Dricus! Big win 👏👏👏

Close fight 50/50 but i thought DDP aggression and go-forward won it for him. You have to go take it from the champ. Never expected it, but Strickland humble in defeat respect to the man. Cant wait for rematch.

week in and week out all the doubt and hate that gets thrown his way and yet here we are, he delivers everytime. much respect

DDP won 100%, He pushed the pace, he dictated the fight, had over 6 take downs.

Awesome contest. It was soooooooooo close. Kudos to Sean. What an impressive fighter and dangerous boxer he is. BUT, I believe that the right man won. Thank you for sharing xxx

Casual South African so glad Dricus got the belt. Big respect for Strickland, a fan of both.

When you don’t agree they call you a fanboy 😂

Sean so good dude

In every other fight the Champ gets the close ones, period. The challenger has to take it. They can’t win by the skin of their teeth. This principle has been articulated thousands upon thousands of times.

Khazmat vs Strickland for number one title contender fight.

Ddp has sick cardio! He had way more volume than strickland highkicks full out swings, amaaazin ❤️🥩

This underdog just put South Africa 🇿🇦 back at the Top 🔝.. UFC CHAMPION 👏! Yessss sir!!!

Sean out landed Dricus by 43 total strikes and doubled the head shot total. Dricus scored 6 of 11 takedowns but didn't land a single grounded strike or submission attempt while having 2:08 minutes of control time. Both were showing damage. Would have felt better about a draw in this situation here then I did with Alexa vs Valentina 2. Even though there were no 10-8 rounds or points taken in the Sean vs Dricus fight

let's go KING DRICUS, KING OF THE AFRICA

Regardless who won shout out to all the dads

This guy has class and deserves the WIN...

man the scoring is wild in the ufc it's like boxing

Well done- DDP had rounds 2,3 and 4. Had 6 takedowns, body/leg kicks and control.

Great fight thanks guys !! 👊 Congrats DDP 👏

1st DEFINITELY went to Sean. 3 & 4 DEFINITELY went to Dricus So the only debatable rounds are 2 & 5 Dricus just edged 2 and Sean just edged 5 Tight match but the right decision in the end. Congratulations DDP!

What happened to the contender having to "beat" the champ not just outscore the champ?

Verdict Scorecard had it for Sean. They need to run it back

South Africa's pride and joy 🇿🇦👌🏽🙏🏽

Lmao 'End of The MMA Guru' 😂😂😂 DDP proved himself ! He adjusted amazingly ! * Showcased his arsenal of skills. * Showed warrior spirit. * Showed champion demeanor. * Didn't look clueless and pushed forward. He is always absorbing and adjusting 💪 The sort of guy you can scream at the screen to do something and he does it.👊🇿🇦

Both went 25 mins through a meat grinder and it sure shows on their faces.

Sean SMASHED his face wow

I was rooting for Sean but the right man won in my opinion.. Dricus had way more output. Threw everything he got at him plus the take downs... Sean did to little to late.. I'm happy for ya Ddp! So nice to see South Africa loose it's mind.🎉

I agree he didn't do anything special but the take down and high kicks were more points than a jab. Ddp is always straight class.

Very happy fr Dricus uganda 🇺🇬

Congratulations...well done...you deserve this win...

"The gold is around your belt ."

Dricus is the King!

Fair play Du Plessis lad yee both fought a great fight !!

Strickland fans crying so badly

CMTrading Ambassador Dricus Du Plessis 🏆 UFC Champion Now they all know what we know GO Dricus 🏆🏆

Regardless of who actually won, I'm happy Dricus was given the win. Striklands style gets boring when he is pushed back or whenever he faces any high level fighter. He fights to safe and scared and only puts on good fights when everything goes perfect for him. He's a one trick pony and deserved to lose. He should have learned from the Candonier fight how to fix his style moving backwards because Dricus has been saying this entire camp he will move forward. Sean clearly had what it took to win but didn't want to get out of his comfort zone and give full effort on anything while Dricus worked harder and took more risks.

Congratulations 🎉🎉🎉

Considering DDP'a sheer output/volume of punches thrown(energy expenditure) - if he learns to be a bit more restrained and save the power punches for when it is needed(it will help him, especially in the 5th round where Sean seemed to catch a 2nd wind), also if he goes to train with some Dagestani's to improve his ground game and learn to keep opponents on the ground like Khabib - he is a future Hall of Famer candidate, if he can tweak his game plan a bit he can be legendary. Very impressive that he mixed strikes to all parts of the body (including punches and kicks) as well as power takedowns - he has a full arsenal of MMA weapons at his disposal - he can and will get much much better!!

those dudes left part of their souls in that octagon

Let's all be honest. A draw is probably the true outcome here but i can see why ddp won. The td won him a close second round

He gained my respect this fight 💪 and thats not easily given

Well done Dricus. Well deserved. Strickland did better than I expected he will, but DDP clearly won rounds 2, 3 and 4. Haters will hate. So be it. The CIT style is here to stay. People still has a lot to learn from this small gym. When people said that Dricus will gas, I just laughed. People does not know. They will never know😂😂🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦

Congrats champ💪💪❤

Dricus for president! Congrats champ 🫡🏆

When fights are this close the one pushing the pace needs to gets it

main event lived up to the hype whenever it doesn't, it just stinks up the whole card. i had ddp winning 3,4 and i believe the takedowns and significant strikes made ddp barely won giving him the 2nd round but they should do a rematch asap

The match was close because of a literal headbutt and i believe Sean still won.

Class act.

Got a gift

This man is hammer. Gz champ.

Why even count significant strikes if you can take 100 to the face and still win?

🇿🇦🇿🇦Lets go Dricus you made us proud Man!🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦

Never heard a champion lose a split decision

Well done lads and good interview

DDP is a great ambassador for UFC the sport and his country well done

The reason Sean Strickland's jab is as good as it its is because he's actually left handed.

To be the Champ you have to take the title he did not .Political sorry Sean.

Fearless moving forward, thats deciding factor in a 50/50 fight I guess GF

Well done Drikus jou yster !!

Tell us how great you are DDP

They need to run it back

The face of a winner 😂😂😂😂

Let's go! Well deserved. Such a close fight!

You got to take it from the champ watched the fight 3 times.. sean out performed him and had way more behind his shots

Nou Weet Julle Wat Ons Weet !!!

I like both of them but I never like it when a Champion loses his belt in such a close fight !

🇿🇦!!!! Congrats! Your guy got it done!

After he beat Whittaker I knew it was only a matter of time until he got the belt. Izzy VS Dricus is going to be insane! The battle of Africa!!!!🇿🇦🇳🇬

Congratulations DDP 🇿🇦🏆

" Here's the thing guys "... Frenchie didn't take the belt from Sean. Trudeau took it from him... PERIOD.

Great close fight and who won will be debated endlessly. I thought Strickland since he hit dricus with many more strikes. It isn’t clear how the takedowns which were never held down influenced the judges. Get this rematch not Izzy doing his tap dancing. These are the real war boys.